The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-06-03
CAPT, WEATHERBY'S GIFT.

his wife were sitting in front of the
coal fire in the back parlor, waiting till
it should be safe to leave, and seeing
many queer things in the glowing as
es. The "help"-they do not keep SER
vants-had gone to bed, and the house
was shut up for the night. No one was
expected, and it was too late for callers,
so there was a mutual start of alarm
on the part of the pair when the door
bell rang in that sudden way
Ting-a-ling-a-iing- -ling-a-ling!
1t was quite ghostly. Mrs Wealth
erby said:
Mercy me, who is there, do you sup,
pose?"
Like as not it's a telegram, " replied
the captain.
Then he went to the door. The wire
of that indigant bell was still vibrating,
and the tongue itself had just stopped
wagging, and yet when the captain
opened the door, not a soul was visible.
The soft, light flakes of the last snow of
the season drifted into his face, and fell
cold and wet on his cheeks. Mrs.
Weatherby was close behind, and ex-
claimed
Mercy me! 1t was nobody"
Not even the cat," said her hus-
band. ''Old Prim can do sight of
mischief, but she can't ring door-bclls.
1t was some pesky boy suppose, who
thought he'd play smart and then run
for it"
What's that on the door-step?" ask
ed Mrs. Weatherby, suddenly.
Its drift" said the captain. Il
tell you what Mary, there'n be a
nor easter tonight, nor least by nor,
with wind that Il make the sails rat
tie. It's gettin' up now," and he drew
in his uncovered head. and was about
to shut the hall door.
"There is something down there, ST.
las" said his wife, fright on the top
step. Looks just like big bundle"
The captain peered out again.
Its right you are my hearty. Sure
as you live it's basket" and he touch
ed it with his foot.
'Oh, it's the groceries for to-mor-
row; that careless boy forgot them. No
wonder he ran away when he rang the
bell! Fctch 'em in, Silas, and leave
them in the back parlor tonight. Han
nah will see them the first thing in the
morningr'
Better take them into the eaboose-
mean the Kitchen" said the captain.
"No; it's locked up. Put 'em on
that chair by the door. Ugh! I'm
shiverin' with the cold air" and the
good woman sat down in front of the
comfortable Goals again.
We've heap to be thankful for,
Mary" said the captain thoughtfully.
"Y-e s, Is'pose so, sighed his wife;
she was thinking just then of two little
graves at Marblehead. They had been
made nigh on to twenty years ago, and
the vacancy in her heart and life had
GeYer been filled.
AT that moment queer little wailing
cry rang through the room. The two
started and looked at each other.
''Sakes alive! Why what was that?''
asked Mrs. Weatherby.
1T came out of that basket" said
the captain; ''that fool of boy has
been and slowed hand in the fo' cas-
tle--I mean Kitten and he stalked
over to it and jerked off the cover.
'By the great hern spoonr' ne ex-
claimed, as he jumped back about four
feet; it's babyI'
Mercy me!'' said his wife; Where
did it come fromp''
From the skies, / should say: that's
what the bell Fang for. Well, / must
say this is an imposition"
Mrs. Weatherby was looking curl
ously into the basket; all she saw was
rags, two bright smiling eyes, and
little round head covered with dark
hair--a wee bit Of a baby, deserted and
alone.
iii 60 for the police said the cap
tain angrily; ''shiver my timbers if
Pm going to have people starving their
babies on my doorstep when there's
places provided for them as are desti-
tute. The police will make short work
Of ii, Mary"
''They won't kill it, viii theyP" ask
ed kind Mrs. Weatherby in Mortified
tones''
"Well, No. wife; that's against the
law. But they'll take it where such